The Apple Watch isn’t even out yet, and already it’s picking up major design awards. The award in question here is the prestigious 2015 iF Design Gold Award, a prize sometimes referred to as a “Design Oscar.”
The awards were first introduced in 1954, and attract more than 2,000 product entries from 37 different nations — with expert judges ruling based on outstanding design quality.
Apple is no stranger to the competition — being one of the most successful iF award winners in history. Since 1985 it has racked up a massive 125 awards (including 44 gold awards) in the competition, with its first ever being for the Apple IIC.
Although you and I are going to have to wait a bit longer to get our hands and wrists on one of Apple’s gorgeous timepieces (or is that the wrong way around?), it’s no great surprise that the device would be in line for a design-oriented prize.
“For us, it is already an icon,” say the award’s judges.
When the recent Apple Watch-centric New Yorker article came out, I commented on how this device is set to be the most purely Jony Ive Apple product yet, and — no surprises here — designers love Jony Ive’s work; not just for the fact that it’s gorgeous, but that its centrality to Apple devices encapsulates the idea that design is how a product works, and not just a pretty outer-shell that gets slapped on after the fact.
“Apple Watch features revolutionary new technologies, a pioneering interface, and a design that honors the rich tradition of watchmaking. Apple Watch’s design and interface were created specifically for a smaller device,” the iF website reads. “The Digital Crown is an innovative way to navigate, the display features Force Touch, which senses the difference between a tap and a press, and the Taptic Engine enables a new vocabulary of notifications you can both hear and feel. The beautifully designed and durable Apple Watch enclosures are crafted from custom alloys of polished or space black stainless steel, space gray or silver anodized aluminum, and 18-karat gold.”
The jury, meanwhile, chipped in with the following analysis:
“The idea of combining classic materials such as leather and metal with state-of-the-art technology to create a very individual fashion accessory has resulted in a delightful product offering a holistic user experience. The Apple Watch scores highly for each design detail and is an altogether extraordinary piece of design. For us, it is already an icon.”
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer watch, to be honest. Congrats, Jony!
Source: iFdesign
Via: iClarified
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
26 responses to “Apple Watch wins one of world’s most prestigious design awards”
This press release is completely ridiculous if the jury had no physical contact with the winning of its object.
I actually really like the design. But for me the smartwatches with LCD screens are problematic due to the short battery life. I really don’t like charging everyday. Pebble Time is my choice of wearable until Apple somehow miraculously increases the batt life of their watches.
How long does the apple watch last, and how is that not enough for you?
LOL! How can it win an award when it isn’t even out yet. They voted based on picture from the internet? This is more like an award no on has heard of trying to get some press and giving it’s award to something they know will get them headlines. Pathetic!
Sounds like some bias judges, the Moto is WAYYYY more appealing by design. Not saying which is a better smartwatch(too soon to judge), but if were talking about design, the Moto still has sex appeal where the apple watch looks like a f’king halloween costume accessory.
You realize your comment is purely subjective, don’t you? The Moto will be discontinued after it’s failure to sell, just like all other smart watches. The Apple Watch will outsell everything in it’s class in just a couple of weeks. Even luxury watch makers are freaking out since the gold Edition version could fetch up to 10K.
You realize no one cares what an apple fanboy has to say about apple products right?
Apparently, you do….
The anti-Apple crown will be in full on butt hurt mode over this…
Depends on what you mean. How do you feel when I tell you that Samsung has 501 awards since 1995! Including at least 6 gold awards this year. Hmmm? Do you feel butt hurt?
I would like to mention a couple of things and leave it at that. Please tell me who got the gold award for laptop design, notebook design or tablet design? Not to mention smartphone design? Did you see any company beside Apple get ANY press for their awards? By press I mean links to articles about the award,etc? I bet you didn’t. I know the only links I saw concerned one company. Apple winning a design award for a smartwatch. The bias in favor of Apple amongst tech journalists is clear. Did you know Sony won for its tablet, HP for notebook design and Lenova for its laptop. It’s a hypothetical question, but who can doubt that if any of those categories had been won by Apple, we’d be seeing headlines for another two weeks or so. Just for winning one award for a product that, to my knowledge, isn’t even in production yet will no doubt result in a weeks worth of stories.
Bottom line to me has always been one thing. Apple isn’t the greatest innovator in history, nor have they led the way, but what they undoubtedly are is the greatest marketing firm in the history of mankind. The name of this website says it all.
Nice one!
yes. Thats why Apple marching ahead with touchid, 64bit, amazing ecosystem etc… competition is struggling to match even after 2 years… better luck next time.
The anti-Apple crowd will be in full on butt hurt mode over this.
Check out the reply above by chasm22
Who’s to day that the jury were not able get their hands on one of those apple watches?
Of course this is all a conspiracy. The iF office is in the city of Hannover/Germany and even in the same street as the Apple Store. I could actually see jury members being bribed by getting free carrier bags by an apple employee.
This design won?? Square smart watches are so two years ago. LG’s Urbane is the most beautiful smart watch.
And so practical too. Showing content on a round display is great. That’s why all TVs and Newspapers are round these days.
Yeah but people do not always want practical especially in what we wear. We want beautiful in what we wear. That is why our clothes are designed to look nice and stylish and not practical like military uniforms. The round watch is a beautiful design embracing both style and functionality. Well done LG and Motorola!
That’s why smart watches are so ubiquitous, and round ones are the most popular, they’re everywhere like Huge Touchscreen phones before the iPhone, right? This market needs change, it needs a company that isn’t trying to just strap a small phone to your arm. This design is unique, and useful. Not just different to see if that’s gonna work..
Do you realize your a sheep???
Who is trying to strap a small phone on your wrist? I know maybe two smart watches that take sim cards. Are you talking about those two phones? All of the other ones since 2013 are mostly for notifications, tracking bio data, tracking exercise with accelerometers, and displaying the time among other things like taking a quick photo or GPS navigation. How is the design unique? It has a crown that you turn? Wow. lol
I am waiting for a laptop with a round display and keyboard…. the iWaffle.
Come on !!!!! Its a freakin square watch like all the ones out there..the huawei one is really nice…..people will love a turd in a box with an apple on it…gimme a break !!!! Its overpriced and ugly !!!!
Yes, the Huawei looks alright but you can tell the design mistakes by the pictures on their website. Reading messages on that display must be a pain in the arse.
So does it look nice? Yes. Is it a smart design? No.
So it is a scaled down computer with no use whatsoever.
So the jury voted on something that’s not been released based on pictures found online? Please tell me how I can participate in this competition too…
I see my prediction came true… so much anger over Apple success. Almost all of the comments here are from distressed Samsung / LG / Motorola fanboys.